Letter – Ralph Grey to George Potts – 17 Jan 1674

      Newcastel Jan 17 73

Mr George Potts

Yours of the 11th Courant Came to safe hand; & assure yourselfe Mr Sales shall want noe furtherance that lies in My power I have bee[n] Lyoing tormented wth the gout that I Canot Looke after my busnes I orderred my Man to goe from Shope to Shope if any had accation for Moneys I would passt my bills I did intreat Mr Sayles the Like who sath he hath beene but Cannot procure any I have ordered my frinde haveing about five hundred pounds London to returne mee; to repare to Capt Huson or my Lord maire uppon his Customs Ald[er]man Webb, Mr Ma< > Shappard or Mr Mason I did never know ret< > [?returns] scarcer heare this 20ty yeares <for> John : Grey I did order hime only to receive the moneys of you and get bills of thesse personne at 14 dayes; with Trouble I put upon hime; he is not aqu[ai]ntd with bills soe the better to be excussed; the Cole trade soe bad and moneys lying out of my hand or else we should trouble none; the late Colerse is much disspersed, some in Schotland Berweike and all ports Capt Zvetwang tooke a privateere last weeke with 8 guuns and 70thty men She had taken Mr Clarke a Shipe of 21 Keales and was in hand with Mr Sam Greeane who was reprevved; the Saterday a great fly bote was Losst of Sunderland whearin Capt How was Conscer[n]ed the ½ part heare hath been bad weather: God send a good agreement betweene king and parlement. I thank you for your private newes god send better; and a fine peace not else further but that I am Yours to Command

Ralph Grey